Try These 15 Fall-Inspired Beers & Drinks in Downtown DSM

Grab a sweater or a jacket and head to Downtown Des Moines (DSM)! We’ve curated a bucket list of 15 must-try autumn-themed beverages including beers, cocktails and drinks from Downtown DSM restaurants, breweries and more.

Cocktails + Drinks

Fall in love with fall flavors! These autumn-centric cocktails and drinks bring the best seasonal flavors that will last on the palate — including apple, maple, honey, caramel and ginger.

Bad Apple
This cocktail is made from Crown Apple, sweet vermouth, maple syrup, molasses and old-fashioned bitters.
Find it at The Stuffed Olive

Coffee and Cigarettes
Even though it is on-the-rocks, this drink will warm you up right down to your toes! Vanilla vodka, cold brew coffee and fernet branca on ice.
Find it at The Continental Lounge

Editor’s Note
If a fresh pick from the orchard is your fall craving, try this mixture of High West American Prairie bourbon, Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot liqueur, demerara and smoked apple bitters.
Find it at Hello, Marjorie

Pig and Fig Manhattan
Order this lowball cocktail featuring fat-washed bourbon, fig-infused sweet vermouth and house chicory maple bitters topped with candied bacon.
Find it at RoCA DSM

Pecan Pie Martini
What could be better than pie in a glass? This one includes Frangelico, Dr. McGillicuddy’s Vanilla, Buttershots, cream, caramel and molasses bitters, plus a caramel garnish and a graham cracker rim.
Find it at The Stuffed Olive

Penicillin
If a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down, find out what a sip of this tasty concoction will do! Enjoy Dewar’s White Label scotch, burnt honey, ginger, lemon, Laphroaig 10 and candied ginger.
Find it at Hello, Marjorie

Rye Whiskey Root Beer
A delicious combination of flavors including Templeton Rye, Peace Tree Root Beer and maraschino cherries.
Find it at Peace Tree Brewing Co.

Salted Caramel Martini
The martini goes seasonal with Smirnoff Caramel vodka, Tippy Cow Vanilla and cream, along with a caramel syrup garnish and salted rim. Yum!
Find it at The Stuffed Olive

Smoke and Mirrors
Sip on this: Templeton Rye, cherry liquor, wood-fired smoked ice, rosemary simple and lemon juice. (You had us at Templeton!)
Find it at Fresko DSM

Beers

Fall craft beers bring rich, robust and smooth flavors. You’ll taste the range of the season with flavors like caramel, cocoa, coffee, malt and other notes hinting of autumn.

Basic Batch
Lean into your love of fall with this beer version of a pumpkin spice latte: sweet pumpkin, warm nutmeg, spicy cinnamon and the tiniest hint of clove.
Find it at Confluence Brewing Co.

English Mild
Enjoy this English-style dark mild ale, with 4.7% ABV. Cheers, mate!
Find it at Peace Tree Brewing Co.

Beaverdale Brick
This seasonal amber ale/red ale comes in at 5.8% ABV and offers a slightly dry, biscuity flavor and medium bitterness. You will pick up on notes of fruit and pine, too.
Find it at Confluence Brewing Co.

Festbier
Big Grove Brewery says “Nothing says ‘fall’ quite like our Bavarian-style Märzen,” and we couldn’t agree more! This amber-hued lager brings a malty caramel taste — perfect for fall weather in the Midwest.
Find it at Big Grove Brewery

Hollow
This dark beer is best described as an English Brown Porter, made with baker’s cocoa, malted milk ball, bread crust and melty caramel.
Find it at Lua Brewing

Oktoberfest
No autumn is complete without a craft Märzen-style beer named after Germany’s biggest fall celebration!
Find it at Exile Brewing Co.

Looking for even more fall-inspired beer selections? Check out Downtown DSM’s various taprooms including Des Moines Biergarten, Craft Bru, Iowa Taproom and El Bait Shop.

Like what you see? This is part of a two-part series highlighting autumn beverages you must try in Downtown DSM. Read more about fall-inspired coffee and tea drinks.

Make it one epic autumn in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) by exploring, experiencing and enjoying what Downtown DSM has to offer. Plan your visit to Downtown DSM with these tips for parking and navigation and discover additional restaurants and nightlife, too!